Common causes/places for coolant leaks on an '02 GT?

[Stangman]

Working on an '02 GT, it loses coolant, and I can smell it, but I can't see it.... its really stumping me. Its an '02 so its already got the aluminum crosover....

My first thought was the radiator, because the plastic tanks always leak... but nope they're dry. I don't see any coolant in the intake valley.

Going to put a coolant pressure tester on it here once it cools down and I can touch it.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[lost cause]

Working on an '02 GT, it loses coolant, and I can smell it, but I can't see it.... its really stumping me. Its an '02 so its already got the aluminum crosover....

My first thought was the radiator, because the plastic tanks always leak... but nope they're dry. I don't see any coolant in the intake valley.

Going to put a coolant pressure tester on it here once it cools down and I can touch it.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Did you check the heater core lines? That is the most common leak point on any car.

[slow86fiveoh]

If it isn't leaking anywhere that u can see, it may be a head gasket seeping into one if the cylinders and burning it my brothers 99 cobra did that.

[chris91]

Under the intake manifold there is a metal coolant pipe that runs along it. Its possible one of the rubber o rings went bad.

[Stangman]

Did you check the heater core lines? That is the most common leak point on any car.

Dry as a bone.


If it isn't leaking anywhere that u can see, it may be a head gasket seeping into one if the cylinders and burning it my brothers 99 cobra did that.

I had a spot that I suspected, but couldnt confirm until I let the car cool down enough to put my pressure tester on it.


Under the intake manifold there is a metal coolant pipe that runs along it. Its possible one of the rubber o rings went bad.

I was thinking that as well, but it turned out to be just the intake gaskets. Theyre leaking at the back on the drivers side. Going to get up and replace them tomorrow morning.

Anyone have any tips on doing them? I've not messed with a mod motor this in depth. Any tips/pointers are appreciated!!

[chris91]

They are cake. They sit right in place. You should be able to do it in like 30 minutes. We swapped my whole intake in like 45.

[slow86fiveoh]

He's ^ right they are a piece of cake man nothing to it the hardest thing is holding the egr tube up enough to slide the intake out.

[Stangman]

Right on. Thanks guys. Will be doing this today.

[stang5slow]

You get this figured out? I'm having the same issue on my 04 but it leaks inside the car an soaks my carpet, costs to much to replace heater core so I've dealt with it for the last year

[Stangman]

Yeah I fixed it already.

[slow86fiveoh]

Heater cores really aren't as bad as u think it only takes a few hours to change one in a stang